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Zambia vs Lesotho Player Ratings
Zambia emerged victorious with a comfortable 3-1 win over Lesotho at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium. Lameck Banda scored twice after Fashion Sakala’s equalizer overturned an early scare caused by Lesotho taking an early lead when Toaster Nsabata fluffed a free kick.
Here’s how the Copper Bullets fared:
- Toaster Nsabata (4.5) The Sekhukune man has had less game time at his club in South Africa and almost cost the country when he gifted Lesotho an easy goal.
- Benedict Chepeshi (8.5) Swift, sleek, and a space jet in acceleration, the Red Arrows captain put up a magnificent display on Zambia’s rear left. His combination play with the midfield and ability to find vital spaces kept the team breathing with ease.
- Rodrick Kabwe (7.3) He took the armband from injured Lubambo Musonda and did not disappoint. Though his general involvement in the first half was raw, he cooked fast in the second half as Zambia pushed forward. He led the team out of the mud with his heart on his sleeves and delivered victory.
- Tandi Mwape (8.0) Tandi Mwape is undoubtedly a concrete wall. He is quick and his ability to read the game with bullish buoyancy from both the ground and air made Frank Musonda’s work easy. Hard but clean, he kept taking the sting out of the Crocodiles’ attacks with magical ease
- Frankie Musonda (8.7) He cheaply gave away the free kick that put Lesotho in front, but quickly picked himself up and proved a point for the second time in a row at Levy. He possesses the composure of a buffalo and the fitness of a fiddle.
He ends the game the way he starts it, never showing signs of getting tired or losing breath. His ability to soak up pressure and conserve so much energy is unbelievable. He left the pitch with a dripping shirt but with a full tank. - Benson Sakala (9.0) He was a horse in the thick of everything. He kept digging trenches with his parallel movements when Zambia had the ball, and when the team lost possession, he was a quick lightning arrestor.
- Emmanuel Banda (6.1) His first-half output was poor, to say the least. Zambia lacked creativity going forward as he kept passing the ball back when the team needed to advance. He combined better with Lameck Banda in the second half, but he needed to be rested for Cletous Chama.
- Kings Kangwa (6.5) His twisting and turning didn’t come to the fore. He worked hard for the team, always tracking to help Chepeshi in defense, but his creative powers didn’t show up.
- Fashion Sakala (7.9) The Rangers man is in excellent form for his club, and that confidence carried the country and made the team believe when spirits shrunk. He picked the ball from the line with an impeccable first touch, glided past two green shirts in a butterfly move, and sent himself into the box to hit the ball with some nuclear power and explosion. Zambia equalized.
- Patson Daka (4.5) He had a poor outing, and his work rate and confidence have dropped to impossible levels. At some point, he became a liability.
- Lubambo Musonda (C) (Unrated) He picked up an injury early in the match.
Substitutes:
Lameck Banda (9.6) The Lecce forward came in for Lubambo and immediately changed the complexion of the match. When the country needed him the most he jumped high to nod in a header that put Zambia in front, then he shot from the nick of the box to put the game beyond Lesotho as he bagged a brace from the bench.
Larry Bwalya (Unrated)
